Falmouth Post Office workers strike outside delivery office in Cornwall

Across the country more than 115,000 postal workers were out protesting over pay on Friday, in what was described by the leader of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) as “the biggest strike in the UK since 2009”.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said his members voted in favour of the strike by 97.6% in a ballot, after management “imposed” a 2% pay rise on employees but “rewarded themselves with record bonuses”, he claimed.

In Falmouth a total of 31 postal workers took part in a protest outside the delivery office on the Bickland Industrial Estate.

Explaining the decision to get involved in the industrial action, one of Falmouth's postal workers, Christopher Thom, said: "All we want is a fair deal, no strings attached payrise, in line with inflation."

Friday’s strike will be followed by further stoppages this Wednesday (August 31), and again on Thursday, September 8 and Friday, September 9.

CWU boss Mr Ward told the PA news agency on Friday: “This is the biggest strike in the UK since 2009, and we have got over 115,000 members who are out on strike today after delivering a massive ‘yes’ vote.

“And it’s over pay, and our members just lost total confidence in the actions of the company, the board, and they’ve lost faith in the leadership and people will understand that when they see the way that the company have conducted themselves.

More than 115,000 postal workers were on strike nationally, the CWU said Picture: James Manning/PA

“The company made record profits last year: £758 million. They gave away over £400 million to shareholders, they rewarded themselves with huge record bonuses for achieving their financial targets and then imposed a 2% pay increase on postal workers.

“Against the background of rocketing inflation, rocketing energy bills, it’s simply not acceptable.

“Postal workers in the UK are one of the last remaining pillars of our society.

“We are going to fight hard to get our members the pay deal that they deserve.”

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Royal Mail CEO Mr Thompson denied the accusation that money from the company has been handed to shareholders, saying the Covid-19 “bubble has burst”.

On Friday, he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “Since the business has been privatised in terms of dividends, we paid out £1.9 billion, but in terms of pay rises during that period of time, we paid out £4.8 billion and I would also just like to make it clear that over the last three years, we spent £900 million on our team’s future by building infrastructure for parcels so that we can compete and win in the market.

“But our reality is that the Covid bubble has burst, and we can see the economic situation around us all.

“And our reality today is we are losing a million pounds a day.”

Mr Thompson said he was open to talk to unions “as long as that discussion is going to be around change”.

He apologised to customers for a “disrupted service” during the strike by workers but stressed change was necessary for the company.

The CEO added: “What is actually on the table at this point in time is 5.5%, which would cost us around about £230 million. And that’s an extra £230 million in a business that is currently losing £1 million a day."